The ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra is a large flagship phone that ASUS announced on February 6, 2025. It went on sale the same day in Europe, Taiwan and Hong Kong. ASUS did not release it in the US. In Europe, it costs €1,099.99 for the 16GB/512GB model. It replaces the Zenfone 11 Ultra and shares much of its hardware with the ROG Phone 9 gaming series.
Design and display
The phone measures 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm and weighs 220 g. It has a matte glass back and a frame made from 100% recycled aluminum. It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. Color options are Sage Green, Sakura White and Ebony Black.
The front holds a 6.78-inch Samsung E6 AMOLED panel with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. Its LTPO refresh rate runs from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, and games can use up to 144 Hz. ASUS rates peak brightness at 2,500 nits. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the screen.
Performance
A Snapdragon 8 Elite powers the phone. Its top CPU clock is 4.3 GHz, and the GPU is an Adreno 830. Memory is LPDDR5X, and storage is UFS 4.0. ASUS sells two versions: 12GB with 256GB and 16GB with 512GB. Outside Taiwan, only the 16GB/512GB model is offered. There is no microSD slot.
Cameras
- Main: 50 MP Sony Lytia 700, 1/1.56-inch sensor, f/1.9, with the 6-axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 4.0.
- Ultrawide: 13 MP with a 120-degree field of view and a free-form lens.
- Telephoto: 32 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom with OIS.
- Front: 32 MP RGBW sensor.
The main camera records video at up to 8K and 30 fps. In addition, 4K video works at 30 or 60 fps. ASUS also adds AI video tools such as AI Tracking and AI Portrait Video 2.0.
Battery and charging
The battery has a capacity of 5,500 mAh. Wired charging reaches 65W over USB Power Delivery or Quick Charge 5.0. The phone also supports 15W Qi wireless charging. However, there is no charger in the box.
Software and updates
The Zenfone 12 Ultra launched with Android 15 and a light ASUS interface. ASUS promises two major Android upgrades. It also offers on-device AI features, including call translation, transcripts and document summaries.
Other features include a 3.5 mm headphone jack, stereo speakers and an optical in-display fingerprint reader. Connectivity covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC. Moreover, it accepts two nano-SIM cards and an eSIM.
Should you buy the ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra?
The phone suits buyers who want a fast flagship with a headphone jack. Its gimbal-stabilized video is another reason to pick it. Its big battery and IP68 rating add to that appeal. On the other hand, only two Android upgrades is a short promise for a flagship. Buyers in the US should also note that ASUS never sold it there officially.
